How to Fix Sound Crackling on Dolphin Emulator

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When it comes to emulating games on the Dolphin Emulator, encountering sound crackling can be a frustrating issue. However, there are various potential fixes and optimizations that can help address this concern. But before diving into possible solutions, let's explore what the Dolphin Emulator is all about.



What’s Dolphin Emulator?

The Dolphin Emulator is a powerful software application that enables users to play their favorite Nintendo GameCube and Wii games on modern devices such as PCs, smartphones, and tablets. 
This impressive emulator allows for enhanced graphics, performance, and compatibility compared to the original consoles, offering an immersive gaming experience. Moreover, it supports various enhancements such as HD resolutions, texture filtering, and even netplay, allowing users to enjoy these classic games with friends online. 
With its continuous development and improvements, the Dolphin Emulator has become a go-to platform for retro gaming enthusiasts looking to relive the magic of Nintendo classics. Now, Let's explore some effective methods for resolving sound crackling on the Dolphin Emulator.

Option 1: Enable Audio Stretching

 


If you are having audio challenges on Dolphin Emulator, you should first check the audio settings. Most of the time, audio stuttering happens because the audio settings are configured wrongly. 
For people who are installing Wii ROMs for dolphin for the first time, you can access this setting through the Config, Graphics, and Controllers buttons in Dolphin’s main toolbar. 
The audio tab is the spot that needs your attention. For the most part, the default audio settings can remain as they are. This tab is also where you can find the “Enable Audio Stretching.” You can configure this setting further to set a buffer to prevent other audio-related problems from coming up as a result of the audio stretching settings. 
Anytime a game’s sound is choppy, chances are this setting is not properly configured. As the same suggests, the purpose of this setting is to delay the audio to allow the graphics and the game itself to catch up to the capabilities of the emulator. Separating the audio from the game’s FPS will prevent it from sounding like a broken record. 

Option 2: Adjusting Emulation Settings

 

To optimize the audio settings in the Dolphin Emulator, navigate to the Audio tab and select DSP HLE in the DSP emulation engine checkmark option. Set the audio backend to WASAPI with a latency of 50, and choose the high-definition audio device from the backend settings. Then, in the Advanced tab, set the CPU emulation engine to JIT Recompiler for x86-64, enable dual core from the basic section, and ensure that all relevant options are checkmarked. 

Option 3: Configure Audio Speed

A great feature of Dolphin is the ability to change the audio of a game without altering the speed or the tempo of the audio file. You can do this by configuring the emulation speed to a lower setting and thereby setting the audio to play at a corresponding pitch. This setting will make the audio run smoother depending on the device. 
If you are wondering whether changing the audio speed will make it lose quality in the process, the answer is no! The only noticeable change to the quality of the soundtrack is that it may start to sound a little distorted. As much as the sound may appear off, the experience can get better as your ear starts getting used to hearing the slowed down audio speed. 

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